Educational space game

ABSTRACT

An educational and instructive game for children and adults. The game comprises a game board showing a representation of the earth at the center and about which the moon is rotatable by a motor. The game further includes several space ships which travel orbital tracks for movement between the earth and moon.

Unlted States Paten 1191 1111 3,826,496, Summa 1 July 30, 1974 1EDUCATIONAL SPACE GAME 3,208,185 9/1965 Silvera 273/129 x 1761 Inventor:Frank 22 Starbuck iii/8131 11/1398 11121585131 11111111331130 StatenIsland, 10304 3,617,063 11/1971 Dyer et a1. 35/45 x 3,648,407 3/1972Pressman 46/253 P [22] 1973 3,680,865 8/1972 Davis 273/134 AA x [21]Appl. No.: 389,855 3,764,145 10/1973 Schrafft 273/134 AE X PrimaryExaminer-Richard C. Pinkham [52] US. Cl 273/108, Assistant Examiner Ha"yG strappello [5] 1 Int Cl A 3/00 Attorney, Agent, or FirmA11ison C.Collard [58] Field of Search ..35/l2 C, 45; 273/108,

134 AB, 273/134 AA, 134 A; 46/243 LV, [57] .ABSTR.ACT

243 273/1 E An educatlonal and mstructlve game for children and adults.The game comprises a game board showing a [56] References Citedrepresentation of the earth at the center and about which the moon isrotatable by a motor. The game UNITED STATES PATENTS further includesseveral space ships which travel or- 2,949,682 8/1960 Hi mbert 273/118RX bita] tracks for movement between the earth and 3,012,368 12/1961Friedman moon 3,188,770 6/1965 Nyc 46/243 LV 3,196,558 7/1965 Webb 35/457 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEB SHEET 2 [IF 2 EDUCATIONAL SPACEGAME This invention relates generally to space toys.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel space gamewherein the players must plan accurate movement of a space shiptraveling from earth so that it intercepts the position of a moving moonthat travels around the earth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a space game whichis of educational and instructive advantage.

A further object of the present invention is to'provide a space gamethat is for adults as well as children who are capable of computing andplanning mathematical problems involving travel distance in relation totime.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a spacegame which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged inconstruction and easy to use.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the game board showing a playing piece inoperation thereupon;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view taken in the same plain as FIG. 2and showing the internal construction of the game board;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the moon playing piece shownenlarged;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of one of the space ships shownenlarged; and

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view of the space ship to illustrate anelectrical drive therefore.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 represents aneducational space toy or game according to the present invention whereinthere is a square configurated game board 11 provided with a playingfield 12 upon the upper side thereof. The game board is preferablyvacuum formed from a sheet of flat plastic so that at the center thereofthere is formed an upwardly extending hemispherical protrusion 13.Imprinted on the outer surface of protrusion 13 are indicia representingthe land and ocean areas of the earth. The peripheral edges 14 of thegame board are downwardly turned as shown in FIG. 3 so as to form aspace 15 beneath the game board for containing operative components ofthe present invention.

Concentrically located around the earth represented by protrusion 13 isa circular track 16. Track 16 includes a pair of upwardly extendingrails 17 upon which a playing piece 17a represents the moon. Moon 17atravels a circular path around earth 13 as best seen in FIG. 1. Track 16is embedded within the game board as best shown in FIG. 3.

Moon 17a comprises a generally hemispherical hollow shell 18 mountedupon two pairs of wheels 19 adaptable for traveling along the rails 17of the track 16. Within the interior of the shell 18 there is located anelectric motor 20 coupled to an electrical circuit 21 having a battery22 and an electric switch 23. The battery is replaceable through anaccess door 24 in the shell 18. Switch 23 includes a push button 25extending out of the top of shell 18. The motor includes a drive shaft26 on which there is mounted a drive wheel 27 that frictionally engagesa rim of one of the wheels 19 so that when the push button 25 ispressed, switch 23 closes and completes the electrical circuit betweenbattery 22 and motor 20. This will provide power for wheel 19 enablingmoon 17a to travel along circular track 16 around earth 13. It isapparent that motor 20 has a constant output so that the movement ofmoon 17a is at all times constant.

A space ship track 28 is mounted upon the upper side of playing field 12of game board 11. Space ship track 28 is designed to include an orbitalportion around earth l3, and a straight portion which then extends in adirection away from the earth 13 and toward track 16 of moon 17a. Thespace ship track 28 includes two starting positions 29 and 30 each oneof which contacts different parts of earth 13 best seen in FIG. 1. Thus,one of these starting positions comprises the USSR launching site whilethe other starting position represents Cape Kennedy. Both of thesestarting positions connect to the orbital portion of space ship track28.

The game includes four space ships, two of which are labeled USA and theothers are labeled USSR. In each pair of similarly labeled ships, one isprovided with a large magnet embedded in its nose while the other has asmall magnet embedded in its nose. This will be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6,wherein a representative space ship 31 is shown. A magnet 32 is disposedin the end of ship 31. Magnet 32 is intended to magnetically engage ametal plate 33 on one side of moon 17a (seen in FIG. 4), when a properdocking is accomplished between the space ship and the moon. The nosecone with magnets separates from the space ship when a successful hit ismade. Larger ships with larger magnets retract the original lunarmodule.

Space ship 31 is relatively small and comprises an electric motor 34included therein. Motor 34 has a drive shaft 35 on which there ismounted a drive wheel 36 for driving a wheel 37 of space ship 31. Ship31 travels on space ship track 28. Power to electric motor 34 isaccomplished by means of a battery 38 contained under hemisphericalearth protrusion 13. Battery 38 is coupled to an electric circuit 39that includes an electric switch 40. Switch 40 is manually operated by apush button 41 extending out of the top end of earth protrusion 13.Circuit 39 is coupled to each one of rails 42 and 43 comprising spaceship track 28, as best seen in FIG. 3. The circular track is a returnpath for the rocket and especially when a miss is recorded. Thisprevents the rocket from sitting at the end of the track. The nose ofthe rocket is long enough to provide separation of the module when a hitis recorded. Small ships have detachable lunar modules, whereas largeships have retrievers. A removable plate 44 is secured by means ofscrews 45 to the underside of game board 11 permitting replacement ofbattery 38.

In operative use, it is evident that the players can competitively tryto make a perfect movement of their space ship between the earth and themoon. This is accomplished by taking into consideration the distance tobe traveled by their space ship in relation to time. The game will beeducational and realistic as well as stir the imagination of players inreference to space travel.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that manychanges and modifications may be made thereunto without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A space game comprising:

a game board;

a circular track mounted thereon;

a moon simulating vehicle adapted for placement on said circular track;

means driving said moon vehicle along said circular track; I

means positioned concentric within said circular track and locatedcentrally on said board for simulating the earth;

a helically configured electrically conductive track having at least oneterminus at said earthsimulating means, and a second terminus at a fixedpoint on said circular track;

at least one spaceship-simulating vehicle adapted for placement on saidhelically configured track; and

driving means, independent of said moon vehicle drive means, for drivingsaid at least one spaceshipsimulating vehicle along said helicallyconfigured track so that said moon vehicle can be placed on saidcircular track and caused to traverse the same, and if saidspaceship-simulating vehicle is placed at the earth terminus of saidhelically configured track at the proper time, having traversed thesame, it will arrive at the second terminus simultaneously with saidmoon vehicle.

2. The game as recited in claim 1, wherein said means driving said moonvehicle comprises:

motor'means placed within said vehicle;

a battery likewise positioned in said vehicle; and

switch means coupling said motor means and said battery so that a playermay conveniently cause said motor means to drive said vehicle.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least onespaceship-simulating vehicle comprises:

a miniature wheeled carriage;

second motor means driving at least one of the wheels of said carriage;and

electrical pickup means for receiving current from said helicallyconfigured track so as to power said second motor means and drive saidcarriage.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said means positionedconcentric within said circular track comprises an upwardly extendingprotrusion positioned on said game board, said protrusion including abattery, an electric circuit coupling said battery to said helicallyconfigured track and switch means for intermittently opening and closingsaid circuit so as to provide electric current to said helicallyconfigured track.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said helicallyconfigured track comprises a pair of paralleled spaced-apart conductingmembers disposed in ahelical configuration and extending from at leastone terminus of said earth-simulating means and ending at said circulartrack. I

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said carriage furthercomprises a magnet positioned on one portion of its periphery, andwherein said moon vehicle further comprises a magnet positioned on itsperiphery for engaging said magnet of said carriage vehicle.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the game furthercomprises a plurality of said spaceshipsimulating vehicles some of whichare labeled USA, the

others of which are labeled USSR.

1. A space game comprising: a game board; a circular track mountedthereon; a moon simulating vehicle adapted for placEment on saidcircular track; means driving said moon vehicle along said circulartrack; means positioned concentric within said circular track andlocated centrally on said board for simulating the earth; a helicallyconfigured electrically conductive track having at least one terminus atsaid earth-simulating means, and a second terminus at a fixed point onsaid circular track; at least one spaceship-simulating vehicle adaptedfor placement on said helically configured track; and driving means,independent of said moon vehicle drive means, for driving said at leastone spaceship-simulating vehicle along said helically configured trackso that said moon vehicle can be placed on said circular track andcaused to traverse the same, and if said spaceship-simulating vehicle isplaced at the earth terminus of said helically configured track at theproper time, having traversed the same, it will arrive at the secondterminus simultaneously with said moon vehicle.
 2. The game as recitedin claim 1, wherein said means driving said moon vehicle comprises:motor means placed within said vehicle; a battery likewise positioned insaid vehicle; and switch means coupling said motor means and saidbattery so that a player may conveniently cause said motor means todrive said vehicle.
 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein saidat least one spaceship-simulating vehicle comprises: a miniature wheeledcarriage; second motor means driving at least one of the wheels of saidcarriage; and electrical pickup means for receiving current from saidhelically configured track so as to power said second motor means anddrive said carriage.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, whereinsaid means positioned concentric within said circular track comprises anupwardly extending protrusion positioned on said game board, saidprotrusion including a battery, an electric circuit coupling saidbattery to said helically configured track and switch means forintermittently opening and closing said circuit so as to provideelectric current to said helically configured track.
 5. The apparatus asrecited in claim 4, wherein said helically configured track comprises apair of paralleled spaced-apart conducting members disposed in a helicalconfiguration and extending from at least one terminus of saidearth-simulating means and ending at said circular track.
 6. Theapparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said carriage further comprisesa magnet positioned on one portion of its periphery, and wherein saidmoon vehicle further comprises a magnet positioned on its periphery forengaging said magnet of said carriage vehicle.
 7. The apparatus asrecited in claim 6, wherein the game further comprises a plurality ofsaid spaceship-simulating vehicles some of which are labeled USA, theothers of which are labeled USSR.